Four East Cocalico officers promoted to corporal

Recognized at East Cocalico Township supervisors Dec. 20 meeting were four police officers promoted to corporal. (Left to right) are East Cocalico police officers Steve Savage, Dave Fisher, Gail Sizer and Josh Sola. On Jan. 4, Savage will have 19 years with the department. He helps with the Lancaster County Drug Task Force and volunteers for various sports programs, including Ephrata Youth Baseball. Fisher on Jan. 15 has 30 years with the department, is a certified crash team reconstructionist and serves on the Fivepointville ambulance. On Feb. 5, Sizer will have 25 years with the department. She serves on the Lancaster County SERT Team and was named crisis negotiator of the year. Sola has 18-1/2 years with the department, is a certified field training officer and responsible for training new officers. He helps with Cocalico Youth Football and coordinates the department’s large, annual toy drive. (Photo by Kirk Neidermyer)

East Cocalico supervisors on Dec. 20 passed their proposed 5.8 million dollar budget with a 5.3 percent increase in property tax. The new millage rate, 1.73 mills, means a homeowner with a $100,000 home owes $173 in property tax, or $8 more than last year.

Chairman Alan Fry said, “The proposed budget was a difficult task, especially with expenses anticipated for stormwater management work to reduce sediment runoff, as required by the federal MS4 program. Everyone worked hard on this budget. I applaud my fellow supervisors for their good thinking and staying the course to produce a balanced budget.”

The previously proposed seven percent tax to help cover mandated MS4 regulations was discussed in depth. Supervisor Doug Mackley reiterated his thoughts that there are too many unanswered questions to add this new tax right now. He also supported using a fee assessed to all properties, including non-profits, since all properties contribute to the issue. The proposed 2019 budget included a stormwater tax, which would not be charged to non-profits.

Although supportive of some type of stormwater management tax, supervisor Romao Carrasco noted that the business community expressed they’re not in favor of it.

Following discussion and questions from residents in the audience, supervisors excused themselves to “run the numbers,” returning about twenty minutes later to make the motions needed to eliminate the proposed stormwater tax, place more money in the general fund and have a balanced budget.

Supervisors approved taking several smaller, unrestricted capital accounts and rolling them into one totaling $593,721.62. They moved $118,240 from the capital fund into the general fund.

Supervisors won’t know if they’re receiving a state grant for stormwater projects till early 2019.

While issues related to the 2019 budget were large, and at times tense, supervisors opened the meeting on a celebratory note. Four East Cocalico police officers were promoted to corporal. Officers David Fisher, Gail Sizer, Steve Savage and Josh Sola each received accolades for their police work and community service endeavors when introduced by Chief Darrick Keppley. The quartet represents a total of 91 years of police work.

In other business:

Keppley responded to a question he received from an East Cocalico business owner during the public comment part of the meeting. Keppley said Denver pays a flat rate for yearly police services, which covers all calls in Denver Borough. Denver does not receive an additional billing for calls that occur at the schools within the borough.

Bob Zorbaugh, CEO of Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, presented an overview of the transfer station slated for the 13 acres adjacent to the Denver turnpike interchange. Zorbaugh said, “The transfer station will reduce truck traffic from the northeast region of the county coming to the Harrisburg Pike facility. The material will come in, get transferred to trucks, and travel by turnpike to Harrisburg. It will be an attractive facility with much landscaping.” Zorbaugh anticipates recycling will also be available to the area residents.